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Hulk

More than a few eyebrows shot skywards at the news that Ang Lee was to direct this science-fiction action drama, the big-screen treatment of yet another Marvel Comics character following on from the box-office success of X-Men, Spider-Man and Daredevil. After all, the director of The Ice Storm was hardly the obvious choice for a genre more noted for campy fun and destructive action than the subtleties of human relationships. What has emerged is a curate's egg of a movie that is unlikely to totally satisfy anyone. The childhood trauma that feeds Bruce Banner's rage is an oddly grim subplot for what began life as a summer blockbuster, while the later action scenes feel tacked on despite their technical virtuosity. Matters aren't helped by Eric Bana's detached performance as Bruce Banner, but Nick Nolte injects a soupçon of fun as the older incarnation of his insane dad and Lee's use of editing - including split screens to suggest comic-strip frames - is quite innovative. Overall this is worth a look, if only to experience a rare but laudable example of big-budget Hollywood taking a risk.

Plot Summary

Science-fiction action drama based on the Marvel comic, starring Eric Bana and Jennifer Connelly. Following exposure to radiation, scientist Bruce Banner transforms into a raging monster whose anger is fuelled by a repressed childhood trauma.